MICHAEL CLARK FROM ABERFELDY AND DAILLY FOUND GUILTY OF SEXUAL OFFENSES IN AYRSHIRE

In a case that has shocked the local communities of Dailly and Aberfeldy, Michael Clark, a man once regarded as a respected figure within the church and local government, has been convicted of multiple serious sexual offenses. Clark, a married grandfather, appeared in Ayr Sheriff Court last week, where he faced charges that spanned over several years and involved vulnerable victims from the area.

Despite his outward appearance as a dedicated community member, with a well-maintained cottage garden near Dailly and a reputation as a church elder and community councillor, the truth of his actions revealed a disturbing pattern of predatory behavior. The court heard that Clark exploited opportunities to target women and girls, often when they were in seemingly innocent settings such as his garden or his vehicle.

The jury found Clark guilty of five counts of sexual assault and indecent exposure, including a particularly distressing incident involving a teenage girl in the summer of 2004. According to court testimony, the young girl had to run at her fastest to escape Clark, who had lured her into his bungalow. There, he groped her and pressed himself against her inappropriately. After she fled through a nearby field, Clark reportedly jumped into his car and pursued her, eventually arriving at her home, where she managed to lock him out.

Another victim, a 55-year-old woman, described Clark as a “Jekyll and Hyde” figure, noting his peculiar attire—his “circus trousers” that were “always up like a big tent.” She recounted an incident where Clark grabbed his crotch and pleasured himself while talking to her over a fence. Clark’s disturbing behavior extended further when he exposed himself to an elderly widow, dropping his trousers as she drove past his lawn. In a separate incident, he flashed while sitting in the driver’s seat of his car after a 71-year-old woman approached his vehicle window.

Details of Clark’s personal life reveal that he resided in Kilgrammie Cottage with his wife, Ann, until 2013, before relocating to Aberfeldy in Perthshire. His professional background includes work as a management consultant and soldier, with employment at the Turnberry Hotel. Following his conviction, Clark has been added to the sex offenders register, marking a significant development in his criminal case.

His wife, Ann, expressed her shock and disbelief at the allegations, stating, “It is all just very unreal.” Clark’s offenses are believed to have occurred between 2003 and 2010, primarily during gardening activities. Throughout the trial, Clark maintained his innocence, claiming that the teenage girl’s accusations were lies. However, his protests did not sway the jury, which found him guilty of five charges, including causing a woman to see his private parts and pleasuring himself in her presence.

He was also convicted of indecently exposing himself to the elderly widow. The jury reached a majority verdict that Clark sexually assaulted and pursued the schoolgirl in 2004, though he was acquitted of groping her sister’s bottom and chest, with evidence indicating he was away in a hotel at the time of those alleged incidents. Additionally, the jury found him not guilty of sexually assaulting and making inappropriate remarks to a 67-year-old woman, with four other charges remaining unproven.

Sentencing has been deferred by Sheriff Desmond Leslie to allow for reports to be prepared, leaving the community awaiting further legal action and the implications of Clark’s convictions.